The first fullerene-metal sandwich complex: an unusually strong electronic communication between two C(60) cages

Reaction of Rh(6)(CO)(9)(dppm)(2)(mu(3)-eta(2),eta(2),eta(2)-C(60)) (1) with C(60) in refluxing chlorobenzene followed by treatment with CNR (R = CH(2)C(6)H(5)) at room temperature affords the first fullerene-metal sandwich complex Rh(6)(CO)(5)(dppm)(2)(CNR)(mu(3)-eta(2),eta(2),eta(2)-C(60))(2) (2). Compound 2 has been characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. Electrochemical study of 2 reveals six well-separated reversible redox couples localized at C(60) cages due to a strong electronic communication between the two C(60) centers via the Rh(6) cluster spacer.     

Two metal centers bridging two C60 cages as a wide passage for efficient interfullerene electronic interaction

The reaction of Ir4(CO)8(PMe3)4 with excess C60 in refluxing 1,2-dichlorobenzene, followed by treatment by CNR (R = CH2C6H5) at 70 degrees C, affords a fullerene-metal sandwich complex Ir4(CO)3(mu4-CH)(PMe3)2(mu-PMe2)(CNR)(mu-eta2,eta2-C60)(mu4-eta1,eta1,eta2,eta2-C60) (1), which exhibits an interesting structural feature of two metal atoms bridging the two C60 centers as well as the first example of a mu4-eta1,eta1,eta2,eta2-C60 bonding mode. Compound 1 has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray diffraction study. A cyclic voltammetry study reveals strong electronic communication between the two C60 centers in 1, which is due to the presence of a wide channel of two metal centers between the two C60 cages for efficient electronic interaction.     

2 + 2] cross coupling of benzene and tropylium ligands in reductively activated piano stool complexes of Mn,Cr, and W

We have established cation/anion coupling reactions between the tropylium ligand in [M(eta7-C7H7)(CO)3]+ (M = Cr, W) and the reductively activated eta4-benzene ligand in [Mn(eta4-C6H6)(CO)3]- (3-) to form [M(CO)3(mu2-eta6:eta5-C7H7-C6H6)Mn(CO)3]; [Cr(CO)3(mu2-eta6:eta5-C7H7-C6H6)Mn(CO)3] can be further reduced to [Cr(CO)3(mu2-eta5:eta4-C7H7-C6H6)Mn(CO)3]2-, in which the tropylium and benzene ligands have undergone a [2 + 2] cross coupling reaction.     

The first observation of four-electron reduction in [60]fullerene-metal cluster self-assembled monolayers (SAMs)

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of a mu 3-eta 2:eta 2:eta 2-C60 triosmium cluster complex Os3(CO)8(CN(CH2)3Si(OEt)3)(mu 3-eta 2:eta 2:eta 2-C60) (2) on ITO or Au surface exhibit ideal, well-defined electrochemical responses and remarkable electrochemical stability being reducible up to tetranionic species in their cyclic voltammograms.     

Fixation of atmospheric CO2 by a dimeric lanthanum hydroxide complex; assembly of an unusual hexameric carbonate

Exposure of the dinuclear hydroxo complex {[La(tpen)(mu-OH)]2(mu-eta1:eta1OTf)}OTf3 to air results in the immediate uptake of atmospheric CO2 affording an unusual hexanuclear lanthanum carbonato complex in which the carbonate anions are ligated in a mu3-eta1:eta1:eta2 and mu3-eta1:eta2:eta2 fashion.     

Synthetic, electrochemical, and theoretical studies of tetrairidium clusters bearing mono- and bis[60]fullerene ligands

Heating a mixture of Ir(4)(CO)(9)(PPh(3))(3) (1) and 2 equiv of C(60) in refluxing chlorobenzene (CB) affords a "butterfly" tetrairidium-C(60) complex Ir(4)(CO)(6){mu(3)-kappa(3)-PPh(2)(o-C(6)H(4))P(o-C(6)H(4))PPh(eta(1)-o-C(6)H(4))}(mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C(60)) (3, 36%). Brief thermolysis of 1 in refluxing chlorobenzene (CB) gives a "butterfly" complex Ir(4)(CO)(8){mu-k(2)-PPh(2)(o-C(6)H(4))PPh}{mu(3)-PPh(2)(eta(1):eta(2)-o-C(6)H(4))} (2, 64%) that is both ortho-phosphorylated and ortho-metalated. Interestingly, reaction of 2 with 2 equiv of C(60) in refluxing CB produces 3 (41%) by C(60)-assisted ortho-phosphorylation, indicating that 2 is the reaction intermediate for the final product 3. On the other hand, reaction of Ir(4)(CO)(8)(PMe(3))(4) (4) with excess (4 equiv) C(60) in refluxing 1,2-dichlorobenzene, followed by treatment with CNCH(2)Ph at 70 degrees C, affords a square-planar complex with two C(60) ligands and a face-capping methylidyne ligand, Ir(4)(CO)(3)(mu(4)-CH)(PMe(3))(2)(mu-PMe(2))(CNCH(2)Ph)(mu-eta(2):eta(2)-C(60))(mu(4)-eta(1):eta(1):eta(2):eta(2)-C(60)) (5, 13%) as the major product. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 have been characterized by spectroscopic and microanalytical methods, as well as by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Cyclic voltammetry has been used to examine the electrochemical properties of 2, 3, 5, and a related known "butterfly" complex Ir(4)(CO)(6)(mu-CO){mu(3)-k(2)-PPh(2)(o-C(6)H(4))P(eta(1)-o-C(6)H(4))}(mu(3)-eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-C(60)) (6). These cyclic voltammetry data suggest that a C(60)-mediated electron transfer to the iridium cluster center takes place for the species 3(3)(-) and 6(2)(-) in compounds 3 and 6. The cyclic voltammogram of 5 exhibits six well-separated reversible, one-electron redox waves due to the strong electronic communication between two C(60) cages through a tetrairidium metal cluster spacer. The electrochemical properties of 3, 5, and 6 have been rationalized by molecular orbital calculations using density functional theory and by charge distribution studies employing the Mulliken and Hirshfeld population analyses.     

Syntheses, structures, and luminescent and magnetic properties of novel three-dimensional lanthanide complexes with 1,3,5-benzenetriacetate

Five novel lanthanide complexes with the formulas [Nd(bta)(H2O)2.4.35H2O]n(1), [Sm(bta)(H2O)2.4.5H2O]n (2), [Eu(bta)(H2O).1.48H2O]n (3), [Tb(bta)(H2O).1.31H2O]n (4), and [Yb(bta)(H2O).H2O]n (5) (H3bta = 1,3,5-benzenetriacetic acid) have been prepared by using the corresponding lanthanide salt and H3bta. The results of an X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that all the complexes have three-dimensional channel-like structures, in which the bta3- ligands adopt different coordination modes: monodentate and mu2-eta2:eta1-bridging coordination modes in 1, 2, and 5 and mu2-eta1:eta1-bridging and mu2-eta2:eta1-bridging coordination modes in 3 and 4, respectively. Complexes 1 and 2, as well as 3 and 4, are isostructural, respectively, in which all the Ln(III) (Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, and Tb) atoms are nine-coordinated, while the Yb(III) atoms in complex 5 are eight-coordinated. Both complexes 3 and 4 showed strong luminescence upon excitation, and their luminescence decay curves fit well with single exponential decays of which the lifetime is 0.45 ms for 3 and 1.0 ms for 4. The magnetic properties of the complexes were investigated in the temperature range of 1.8-300 K.     

d(10) Metal complexes assembled from isomeric benzenedicarboxylates and 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole showing 1D chain structures: syntheses, structures and luminescent properties

Seven new d10 metal coordination polymers with isomeric benzenedicarboxylates and 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole ligands, [Zn2 L2(1,2-BDC)(H2O)]n ( 1), {[Cd2(H L)2(1,2-BDC)2] x H2O}n ( 2), [Cd(H L)(1,2-BDC)(H2O)]n (3), [Zn(H L)(1,3-BDC)(H2O) x 3H2O]n ( 4), [Cd2 L2(1,3-BDC)(H2O)]n (5), [Zn(H L)2(1,4-BDC)]n ( 6) and [Cd(H L)2(1,4-BDC)]n (7) (BDC = benzenedicarboxylate, H L = 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole), have been synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, IR and X-ray diffraction. Single-crystal X-ray analyses reveal that each complex takes a different one-dimensional (1D) chain structure. In 1-7, the BDCs act as bridging ligands, exhibiting rich coordination modes to link metal ions. The three BDC isomers exhibit different coordination modes: micro(1)-eta(1):eta(1)/micro(3)-eta(2):eta(1), micro(3)-eta(1):eta(2)/micro(3)-eta(2):eta(1), micro(2)-eta(1):eta(1)/micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0) and micro(1)-eta(1):eta(1)/micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0) for 1,2-BDC, micro(1)-eta(1):eta(1)/micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0) and micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0)/micro(2)-eta(2):eta(1) for 1,3-BDC, and micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0)/micro(1)-eta(0):eta(1), micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0)/micro(1)-eta(1):eta(0) and micro(1)-eta(1):eta(1)/micro(1)-eta(1):eta(1) for 1,4-BDC, respectively. In these complexes, H acts as a simple bidentate chelate ligand (in 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7), similar to 2,2'-bipyridine, or as a tridentate chelate-bridging ligand (in 1 and 5) via deprotonation of the pyrazolyl NH group and coordination of the pyrazolyl N atom to a second metal ion. The structural differences indicate that the backbone of such dicarboxylate ligands plays an important role in governing the structures of such metal-organic coordination architectures, and the chelating bipyridyl-like ligand H leads to the formation of these coordination polymers with one-dimensional structures by occupying the coordination sites of metal ions. Moreover, the photoluminescent properties of complexes were also studied in the solid-state at room temperature.     

Ti-Mo heterobimetallic thiacalix[4]arene complex containing an unusual alpha-agostic micro2-eta5:eta2-cyclopentadienyl ligand

A stepwise reaction of p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene (TC4A-(OH)(4)) with [CpTiCl3]-NEt(3) and cis-[Mo(N(2))(2)(PMe(2)Ph)(4)] afforded a new Ti-Mo heterobimetallic complex [TC4A-(O)(4)Ti(micro2-C(5)H(5))MoH(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] which shows an unusual alpha-agostic micro2-eta5:eta2-coordination of a cyclopentadienyl ligand.     

"Bent bonds" between bismuth and carbon atoms as a result of C-H activation in Mo-Bi complexes

The reaction of molybdocenedihydride with two equivalents of [Bi(OtBu)(3)] proceeds via alcohol elimination and provides the compound [Cp(2)Mo{Bi(OtBu)(2)}(2)] (1), which contains two Mo--Bi metal bonds, in good yields. If the two reagents are employed in a 1:1 ratio continuative condensation reactions occur. These initially lead to [{Cp(2)Mo}(2){mu-Bi(OtBu)}(2)] (2), which, however, is very unstable in solution and decomposes via additional alcohol elimination: Complex-induced proximity effects facilitate the cleavage of C--H bonds within the cyclopentadienyl ligands by the residual alkoxide ligands, so that spontaneously two further equivalents of alcohol are released, thereby yielding two isomeric compounds 3 and 4 with Cp ligands bridging Mo--Bi metal bonds: The first isomer (3) contains two mu(2)-eta(5):eta(1)-C(5)H(4) ligands, the second isomer (4) contains one bridging mu(3)-eta(5):eta(1):eta(1)-C(5)H(3) ligand. The binding of these ligands to molybdenum and bismuth atoms at the same time is made possible through "bent bonds" between the bismuth and certain carbon centres. These unusual bonding situations were analysed by means of calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), the atoms in molecules (AIM) theory, natural bond order (NBO) considerations and the electron localisation function (ELF). According to the results the bonds can be understood in terms of carbanionic centres interacting with bismuth cations (i.e. closed-shell interactions). The formation of these bonds and the thermodynamics/kinetics involved on going from 2 to 3 and 4 were also studied by theoretical methods, so that the product formation is rationalised. The crystal structures of all four new compounds were determined. These structures but also the properties and mechanisms of formation are discussed against the background of the corresponding results obtained while studying the system [(Me)Cp(2)MoH(2)]/[Bi(OtBu)(3)].     

Self-assembly of a series of novel metal-organic compounds containing ferrocenecarboxylate components

Using FcCOONa (Fc = (eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))) as starting material, we obtained an unprecedented metal-organic coordination polymer containing ferrocenecarboxylate components [[Pb(2)(FcCOO)(eta(2)-FcCOO)(mu(2)-eta(2)-FcCOO)(mu(3)-eta(2)-FcCOO)(CH(3)OH)].1.5CH(3)OH.H(2)O](n) (1), tetramer [Zn(4)(mu(2)-FcCOO)(6)(mu(4)-O)] (2), and coordination polymers [Pb(FcCOO)(mu(2)-FcCOO)(bpe)](n) (3) (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene), [[Zn(FcCOO)(2)(bpt)].2.5H(2)O](n) (4) (bpt = N,N'-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)thiourea), and [Zn(FcCOO)(eta(2)-FcCOO)(bbp)](n) (5) (bbp = 4,4'-trimethylene-dipyridine). Compounds 1 and 2 are formed by ferrocenecarboxylate units coordinating with Pb(II) or Zn(II). In polymer 1, ferrocenecarboxylate units have four kinds of coordinate modes; just these novel coordinate modes lead to the unprecedented one-dimensional polymer where two kinds of rhomboids are arranged alternatively along the chain. Compound 2 is a tetramer, in which a distinct connectivity of the six ferrocene units is established through the four Zn atoms. Compounds 3-5 are obtained by organic ligands bridging Pb(II) or Zn(II), leading to a new type of metal-organic coordination polymer.     

Synthesis, characterisation, crystal structures, reactivity, and electrochemistry of ruthenium-nitrido, ruthenium-cobalt-imido and ruthenapyrrolidone carbonyl clusters containing alkyne ligands

Thermolysis of [Ru3(CO)9(mu3-NOMe)(mu3-eta2-PhC2Ph)] (1) with two equivalents of [Cp*Co(CO)2] in THF afforded four new clusters, brown [Ru5(CO)8(mu-CO)3(eta5-C5Me5)(mu5-N)(mu4-eta2-PhC2Ph)] (2), green [Ru3Co2(CO)7(mu3-CO)(eta5-C5Me5)2(mu3-NH)[mu4-eta8-C6H4-C(H)C(Ph)]] (3), orange [Ru3(CO)7(mu-eta6-C5Me4CH2)[mu-eta3-PhC2(Ph)C(O)N(OMe)]] (4) and pale yellow [Ru2(CO)6[mu-eta3-PhC2(Ph)C(O)N(OMe)]] (5). Cluster 2 is a pentaruthenium mu5-nitrido complex, in which the five metal atoms are arranged in a novel "spiked" square-planar metal skeleton with a quadruply bridging alkyne ligand. The mu5-nitrido N atom exhibits an unusually low frequency chemical shift in its 15N NMR spectrum. Cluster 3 contains a triangular Ru2Co-imido moiety linked to a ruthenium-cobaltocene through the mu4-eta8-C6H4C(H)C(Ph) ligand. Clusters 4 and 5 are both metallapyrrolidone complexes, in which interaction of diphenylacetylene with CO and the NOMe nitrene moiety were observed. In 4, one methyl group of the Cp* ring is activated and interacts with a ruthenium atom. The "distorted" Ru3Co butterfly nitrido complex [Ru3Co(CO)5(eta5-C5Me5)(mu4-N)(mu3-eta2-PhC2Ph)(mu-I)2I] (6) was isolated from the reaction of 1 with [Cp*Co(CO)I2] heated under reflux in THF, in which a Ru-Ru wing edge is missing. Two bridging and one terminal iodides were found to be placed along the two Ru-Ru wing edges and at a hinge Ru atom, respectively. The redox properties of the selected compounds in this study were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential coulometry. 15N magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies were also performed on these clusters.     

Cadmium(II) and copper(II) complexes with imidazole-containing tripodal polyamine ligands: pH and anion effects on carbon dioxide fixation and assembling

A new Cd(II) complex [Cd3(L)3(mu3-CO3)](ClO4)4.2CH3CN (1) with two-dimensional (2D) network structure was obtained by reaction of an imidazole-containing tripodal polyamine ligand N1-(2-aminoethyl)-N1-(2-imidazolethyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L) with Cd(ClO4)2.6H2O at pH 9.0 in air. The carbonate anions (CO3(2-)) are from the hydration of the atmospheric carbon dioxide, which is the same as in the previously reported Cu(II) complex [Cu3(L)3(mu3-CO3)](ClO4)4.3CH3CN (2). However, the coordination mode of CO3(2-) in 1 is mu3-eta2:eta2:eta2 while the one in 2 is mu3-eta1:eta1:eta1. One-dimensional (1D) chain Cd(II) and Cu(II) complexes [Cd(L)Cl]ClO4.H2O (3) and [Cu(L)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (4) without CO3(2-) were prepared by a similar method as that for 1 and 2 except for the different reaction pH, namely, 3 and 4 were obtained at pH 7 while 1 and 2 were obtained at pH 9. In addition, when Cu(NO3)2 was used to react with L at pH 9, a unique 1D double-stranded helical chain complex [Cu(L)Cl]NO3.1.25H2O (5) was obtained. The results revealed that the reaction pH and the counteranion have great impact on the carbon dioxide absorption and hydration as well as on the assembling and structure of the complexes. The magnetic property of complex 2 was investigated in the temperature range of 1.8-300 K, and weak ferromagnetic coupling among the mu3-eta1:eta1:eta1-CO3(2-) bridged Cu(II) atoms was observed.     

Amido-bridged double-cube nitrido complexes containing titanium and magnesium/calcium

Treatment of the single cube nitrido complexes [(thf)x((Me3Si)2N)M((mu3-N)(mu3-NH)2Ti3(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N))](M = Mg, x= 0; Ca, x= 1) with one equivalent of anilines NH2Ar in toluene affords the arylamido complexes [(ArHN)M((mu3-N)(mu3-NH)2Ti3(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N))]n[M = Mg (3), n= 1, Ar = 4-MeC6H4; Ca (4), n= 2, Ar = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2]. The magnesium complex 3 has a single-cube structure whereas the X-ray crystal structure of the analogous calcium derivative 4 shows two cube-type azaheterometallocubane moieties Ca((mu3-N)(mu3-NH)2Ti3(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N)) held together by two mu-2,4,6-trimethylanilido ligands. Complexes 3 and 4 react with chloroform-d1 at room temperature to give the metal halide adducts [Cl2M((mu3-NH)3Ti3(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N))](M = Mg, Ca). A solution of 3 in n-hexane gave complex [(Mg2(mu3-N)(mu3-NH)5[Ti3(eta5-C5Me5)3(mu3-N)]2)(mu-NHAr)3] which shows three mu-4-methylanilido ligands bridging two [MgTi3N4] cube type cores according to an X-ray crystal structure determination.     

Heterocyclic thionates as a new class of bridging ligands in oxo-centered triangular cyclopentadienylchromium(III) complexes

The interactions of the benzothiazolate complex, CpCr(CO)(2)(SCSN(C(6)H(4))) (2), and the tetrazole thiolate complex, CpCr(CO)(3)(eta(1)-SCN(4)Ph) (3), with controlled amounts of Me(3)OBF(4) and (MeO)(2)SO(2), respectively, produced the corresponding mu(3)-oxo trinuclear thionate-bridged complexes, [Cp(3)Cr(3)(mu(2)-OH)(mu(3)-O)(mu(2)-eta(2)-SCSN(C(6)H(4)))(2)](5)BF(4) (45%) and [Cp(3)Cr(3)(mu(2)-OH)(mu(3)-O)(mu(2)-eta(2)-SCN(4)Ph)(2)](9)(MeOSO(3)) (53%), together with their respective free dimethylated thiolate ligands, [MeSCSNMe(C(6)H(4))](4)BF(4) and (Me(2)SCN(4)Ph)(8)MeOSO(3). The reaction of 3 with Me(3)OBF(4) resulted in the isolation of a binuclear complex, [Cp(2)Cr(2)(mu-OH)(mu-eta(2)-SCN(4)Ph)(2)](7)BF(4) (43%), and (8)BF(4) (27%). The reaction of the thiopyridine complex, CpCr(CO)(2)(SPy) (4), with I(2) also produced a similar mu(3)-oxo complex 10 (31%), together with CpCrI(2)(THF) (11) and the disulfide (SPy)(2). Similar reactions with 2 and 3 and I(2) yielded species 5 and 7, together with 11 and disulfides derived from their respective ligands. Cyclic voltammograms recorded in solutions of 5 and 9 indicated that the compounds could be reduced and oxidized at very similar potentials. An EPR spectrum characteristic of a compound with axial symmetry was obtained for 9 at 7 K. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed that species 7 is dinuclear, whereas 5 and 9 are structural trinuclear analogues, each containing a mu(3)-oxo central core.     

Novel Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II) coordination polymers constructed from ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate and bipyridine-based ligands

Treatment of two kinds of ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate ligands (3-ferrocenyl-2-crotonic acid, HOOC-CH=(CH(3))CFc (Fc=(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))) or O-ferrocecarbonyl benzoic acid, o-HOOCC(6)H(4)COFc with Pb(OAc)(2).3H(2)O, Zn(OAc)(2).2H(2)O, or Cd(OAc)(2).2H(2)O) resulted in four novel ferrocene-containing coordination polymers [[Pb(mu(2)-eta(2)-OOCCH=(CH(3))CFc)(2)].MeOH](n) (1), [[Zn(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(2)(4,4'-bipy)(H(2)O)(2)].2MeOH.2H(2)O](n) (4,4'-bipy = 4,4'-bipyridine) (2), [[Cd(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(2)(bpe)(MeOH)(2)].2H(2)O](n) (bpe = 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethene) (3), and [Pb(o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(eta(2)-o-OOCC(6)H(4)COFc)(bpe)](n)() (4). Their crystal structures have been characterized by single X-ray determinations. In polymer 1, Pb(II) ions are bridged by tridentate FcC(CH(3))=CHCOO(-) anions, forming an infinite chain [Pb(mu(2)-eta(2)-OOC=CH(CH(3))CFc)(2)](n). In polymers 2-4, there are three kinds of components, metal ions, o-FcCOC(6)H(4)COO(-) units, and organic bridging ligands. The bipyridine-based ligands connect metal ions leading to a one-dimensional chain with o-FcCOC(6)H(4)COO(-) units acting as monodentate or chelate ligands in the side chain. Such coordination polymers containing ferrocenyl-substituted carboxylate and bipyridine-based ligands are very rare. The solution-state differential pulse voltammetries of polymers 1-4 were determined. The results indicate that the half-wave potential of the ferrocenyl moieties is influenced by the Pb(II) ions in polymer 1 and strongly influenced by Zn(II), Cd(II), or Pb(II) ions in polymers 2-4. The thermal properties of the four polymers were also investigated.     

Structural studies of N,N'-di(ortho-fluorophenyl)formamidine group 1 metallation

The treatment of N,N'-di(ortho-fluorophenyl)formamidine (HFPhF) in tetrahydrofuran with equimolar amounts of n-butyllithium, sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide or potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide affords the colourless crystalline formamidinate complexes [Li(FPhF)(thf)] (1), [Na(FPhF)(thf)] (2) and [K(FPhF)] (5). Low-temperature preparation of 2 in diethyl ether yields the Et(2)O adduct [Na(FPhF)(Et(2)O)] (3). At ambient temperature the sodium fluoride inclusion complex [Na(3)(FPhF)(3)(Et(2)O)(NaF)] (4) is also formed. Spectroscopic ((1)H, (13)C and (19)F((1)H) NMR) data for 1-5, microanalytical analyses for compounds 1, 2 and 5 and X-ray structure determinations for 1, 3-5 confirm the formulae of these species. In the solid-state, 1 and 3 possess a dimeric nature in which the formamidinate ligands coordinate through mu(2):eta(2):eta(1) (1) and mu(2):eta(2):eta(2) (3) binding modes. These are enabled by partial ortho-fluoro donation. Compound 4, which is also dimeric, contains two trisodium tris(formamidinate) units that comprise mu(2):eta(2):eta(2)-FPhF ligands, a bridging diethyl ether moiety and an unprecedented mu(3):eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-formamidinate donor. Together, these trinuclear units encapsulate two sodium fluoride units by eta(2)-N,N-formamidinate chelation of the sodium cations (thereby creating further mu(3):eta(2):eta(2):eta(2)-bound formamidinates) and fluoride-sodium interactions. Compound 5 extends the coordinative versatility of FPhF to mu(2):eta(4):eta(3) coordination by the generation of K(2)(mu(2):eta(4):eta(3)-FPhF)(2) units that exhibit eta(2)-arene interactions. Macromolecularly, the overlaying of these units affords a polymeric solvent-free structure that incites coordination of the FPhF ligands to metal atoms above and below the K(2)(FPhF)(2) plane. Overall, this generates a remarkable mu(4):eta(4):eta(3):eta(2):eta(1)-amidinate binding mode that incorporates both bridging and terminal fluorine donors. Compounds 1-5 are the first non-chromium complexes of N,N'-di(ortho-fluorophenyl)formamidinate.     

Weak carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen interactions affect the heterocyclic ligand bonding modes in barium complexes containing eta2-tetrazolato and eta2-pentazolato ligands

Treatment of Ba[N(SiMe3)2]2(THF)2 with 2 equiv of dimethylaminotetrazole or diisopropylaminotetrazole and 1 equiv of 18-crown-6 afforded Ba[CN4(NMe2)]2(18-crown-6) (87%) and Ba[CN4(NiPr2)]2(18-crown-6) (79%) as colorless crystalline solids. Ba[CN4(NMe2)]2(18-crown-6) contains two 1,2-eta2-tetrazolato ligands and one eta6-18-crown-6 ligand. The molecular structure of Ba[CN4(NiPr2)]2(18-crown-6) is similar to that of Ba[CN4(NMe2)]2(18-crown-6), except that the tetrazolato ligands exhibit the isomeric 2,3-eta2-coordination mode and the tetrazolato ligand CN4 cores are bent significantly toward the 18-crown-6 ligands. Molecular orbital calculations were carried out on the model complexes Ba(azolate)2(18-crown-6) (azolate = 1,2-eta2-CHN4, 2,3-eta2-CHN4, and eta2-N5) and demonstrate that the ligand coordination modes are influenced by intramolecular interactions between filled nitrogen orbitals on the azolato ligands and empty C-H sigma* orbitals on the 18-crown-6 ligands.     

Arene-ruthenium complexes of an acyclic thiolate-thioether and tridentate thioether derivatives resulting from ring-closure reactions

The reaction of [(eta(6)-arene)RuCl(2)](2) (arene = C(6)Me(6), 1,4-MeC(6)H(4)CHMe(2)) with a large excess of the dianion of bis(2-mercaptoethyl) sulfide, (HSCH(2)CH(2))(2)S, obtained from deprotonation of the dithiol with freshly prepared NaOMe, gives the deep red, monomeric complexes [(eta(6)-arene)Ru(eta(3)-C(4)H(8)S(3))] (arene = C(6)Me(6) (5), 1,4-MeC(6)H(4)CHMe(2) (6)) in which the dianion is bound to the metal atom through one thioether and two thiolate sulfur atoms. Complex 5 reacts with [(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))RuCl(2)](2) (4) in a 2:1 mole ratio to give a quantitative yield of the chloride salt of a binuclear cation [((eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru)(2)Cl(mu(2)-eta(2):eta(3)-C(4)H(8)S(3))](+) (7) in which the thiolate sulfur atoms of the [(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(eta(3)-C(4)H(8)S(3))] group bridge to a (eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))RuCl unit. This compound is also obtained directly from the reaction of 4 with the dithiolate, if the Ru dimer is used in large excess. The binuclear complex [((eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru)(2)(MeCN)(mu(2)-eta(2):eta(3)-C(4)H(8)S(3))](PF(6))(2).MeCN, (9)(PF(6))(2).MeCN, is obtained by treatment of (7)Cl with NH(4)PF(6) in acetonitrile. Protonation of 5 with HCl gave the mono- and diprotonated derivatives viz. [(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(eta(3)-C(4)H(9)S(3))]Cl, (8)Cl, and [(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(eta(3)-C(4)H(10)S(3))]Cl(2), (10)Cl(2), respectively. The reaction of 5 with methyl iodide gives both the mono- and di-S-methylated derivatives. Treatment of 5 with dibromoalkanes, Br(CH(2))(n)Br (n = 1-5), effects ring closure to give the (eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru dications containing the trithia mesocyclic zS3 (z = 8-12) ligands, isolated as their PF(6) salts. The X-ray crystal structures of 5, 6, the solvates of (7)Cl and (9)(PF(6))(2), and the trithia mesocyclic Ru complexes (eta(6)-C(6)Me(6))Ru(zS3)(PF(6))(2) (z = 8-11) are reported.     

Zirconium bis(indenyl) sandwich complexes with an unprecedented indenyl coordination mode and their role in the reactivity of the parent bent-metallocenes: a detailed DFT mechanistic study

The mechanisms of three closely related reactions were studied in detail by means of DFT/B3 LYP calculations with a VDZP basis set. Those reactions correspond to 1) the reductive elimination of methane from [Zr(eta5-Ind)2(CH3)(H)] (Ind=C9H7-, indenyl), 2) the formation of the THF adduct, [Zr(eta5-Ind)(eta6-Ind)(thf)] and 3) the interconversion between the two indenyl ligands in the Zr sandwich complex, [Zr(eta5-Ind)(eta9-Ind)], which forms the link between the two former reactions. An analysis of the electronic structure of this species indicates a saturated 18-electron complex. A full understanding of the indenyl interchange process required the characterisation of several isomers of the Zr-bis(indenyl) species, corresponding to different spin states (S=0 and S=1), different coordination modes of the two indenyl ligands (eta5/eta9, eta5/eta5 and eta6/eta9), and three conformations for each isomer (syn, anti, and gauche). The fluxionality observed was found to occur in a mechanism involving bis(eta5-Ind) intermediates, and the calculated activation energy (11-14 kcal mol(-1)) compares very well with the experimental values. Two alternative mechanisms were explored for the reductive elimination of methane from the methyl/hydride complex. In the more favourable one, the initial complex, [Zr(eta5-Ind)2(CH3)(H)], yields [Zr(eta5-Ind)2] and methane in one crucial step, followed by a smooth transition of the Zr intermediate to the more stable eta5/eta9-species. The overall activation energy calculated (Ea=29 kcal mol(-1)) compares well with experimental values for related species. The formation of the THF adduct follows a one step mechanism from the appropriate conformer of the [Zr(eta5-Ind)(eta9-Ind)] complex, producing easily (Ea=6.5 kcal mol(-1)) the known product, [Zr(eta5-Ind)(eta6-Ind)(thf)], a species previously characterised by X-ray crystallography. This complex was found to be trapped in a potential well that prevents it from evolving to the 3.4 kcal mol(-1) more stable isomer, [Zr(eta5-Ind)2(thf)], with both indenyl ligands in a eta5-coordination mode and a spin-triplet state (S=1).